It started with a joke. “Why do you look serious? You can’t even say good evening. Huh? What’s happening? You are tired? We are working!” The audience laughed. Not as much as Zuma. That infuriating laugh that had been deployed so often in the past. That was the last time he would laugh.

“I have come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect.”

For the next 25 minutes Zuma rambled seriously. The words South Africa was waiting to hear, sandwiched between rhetoric. Proudly served the nation. White monopoly. Thanks to all.

“I have come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect.” There they were. Delivered as calm as a Hindu cow. Zuma didn’t look up. Buried in the pages of his speech.

Before the official resignation, as the walls closed in on the former President, the entire nation could see the writing. All bar one, the man in the highest office. Standing atop his ivory tower, he defied logic, clawing to power. The mood smelt familiar, Zimbabwean.

There was a televised statement to the nation on State Television. “Hell no, I won’t go!” But in the end, like Mugabe, he had to.

“I fear no motion of no confidence or impeachment,” those words belied Jacob Zuma’s intentions.

The former president couldn’t help himself. I’ll tell you exactly why I resigned. I’ll tell you that’s it’s got nothing to do with post-office perks, or being ousted in a humiliating vote of no-confidence. And like that, the nation heard exactly the reasons why he resigned. In his own words, bound by lies.